Automotive air conditioning apparatus

Abstract

Automotive air conditioning apparatus for generating air anions in the passenger compartments of motor vehicles is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a voltage converter for converting the ignition voltage of the vehicle engine to a lower voltage suitable for operating an air anion generator located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The voltage converter includes a voltage reducer, such as a resistive voltage divider or an autotransformer, a rectifier, a fuse, and a current limiting resistor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A voltage converter for converting the ignition voltage of the engine of an automobile to a lower voltage suitable for operating an air anion generator located in the passenger compartment of said automobile, comprising: voltage reducing circuit means having a high voltage terminal, electrical connecting means adapted to be connected to the circuit providing said ignition voltage to connect the same to said high voltage terminal, and a low voltage terminal; and   current limiting means having a first terminal, a second terminal, and electrical connecting means adapted to interconnect said second terminal and said air anion generator;   said first terminal of said current limiting means being connected to said low voltage terminal of said voltage reducing circuit means.   
     
     
       2. A voltage converter as claimed in claim 1 in which said voltage reducing circuit means comprises rectifying means. 
     
     
       3. A voltage converter as claimed in claim 2, further comprising voltage wave integrating means connected to said low voltage terminal of said voltage reducing circuit means. 
     
     
       4. A voltage converter as claimed in claim 3, further comprising overcurrent circuit breaking means for opening a branch of said voltage reducing circuit means when the current therethrough exceeds a predetermined maximum value. 
     
     
       5. In a motor vehicle having an engine including a source of ignition voltage, the improvement comprising: voltage converter means for converting said ignition voltage to a lower voltage suitable for operating an air anion generator;   ignition voltage connection means adapted to connect said voltage converter means to said source of ignition voltage;   air anion generating means located in the passenger compartment of said motor vehicle; and   ionizer voltage connection means adapted to interconnect said air anion generating means with said voltage converter means.   
     
     
       6. The combination claimed in claim 5, in which said voltage converter means comprises: voltage reducing circuit means having a high voltage terminal and a low voltage terminal; and   current limiting means having a first terminal and a second terminal;   said first terminal of said current limiting means being connected to said low voltage terminal of said voltage reducing circuit means.   
     
     
       7. The combination claimed in claim 6 in which said voltage reducing circuit means comprises rectifying means. 
     
     
       8. The combination claimed in claim 6, further comprising voltage wave integrating means connected to said low voltage terminal of said voltage reducing circuit means. 
     
     
       9. The combination claimed in claim 6 in which said voltage reducing circuit means comprises rectifying means and overcurrent circuit breaking means for opening a branch of said voltage reducing circuit means when the current therethrough exceeds a predetermined maximum value. 
     
     
       10. The combination claimed in claim 6 in which said voltage reducing circuit means comprises first and second inductively coupled winding means. 
     
     
       11. The combination claimed in claim 5 in which said voltage converter means comprises: input terminal means;   output terminal means;   voltage reducing circuit means having high voltage terminal means connected to said input terminal means and low voltage terminal means;   voltage wave integrating means connected to said low voltage terminal means; and   current limiting means connected between said low voltage terminal means and said output terminal means.   
     
     
       12. The combination claimed in claim 11 in which said voltage reducing circuit means comprises rectifying means. 
     
     
       13. The combination claimed in claim 12 in which said voltage reducing circuit means further comprises overcurrent circuit breaking means for opening a branch of said voltage reducing circuit means when the current therethrough exceeds a predetermined maximum value. 
     
     
       14. The combination claimed in claim 11 in which said voltage reducing circuit means comprises first and second inductively coupled winding means. 
     
     
       15. The combination claimed in claim 14 in which said voltage reducing circuit means further comprises rectifying means. 
     
     
       16. The combination claimed in claim 15 in which said voltage reducing circuit means further comprises overcurrent circuit breaking means for opening a branch thereof when the current therethrough exceeds a predetermined maximum value.